New Report from Earthworks Reveals Texas Case is Part of Emerging National Pattern: Regulators Actively Ignoring Evidence of Public Harm from Fracking Pollution

Earthworks

September 19, 2013

Washington, DC – A new report released today, September 19th, provides an important window into a disturbing national pattern regarding the oversight of fracking-enabled oil and gas development: regulators, charged with protecting the public, are actively avoiding evidence that fracking is harming the public. The report focuses on Karnes County, TX in an attempt to illuminate a growing national pattern of absentee regulators.

Based on state reports and independent environmental testing, “Reckless Endangerment in the Eagle Ford Shale: Government fails, public health suffers and industry profits from the shale oil boom reveals:

Residents faced with industry pollution desperate for help,

Regulators documented pollution so dangerous that they evacuated,

Regulators took no recorded action to protect or warn residents, nor penalize polluting companies; and

Residents are still living with the dangerous air pollution including cancer-causing toxics like benzene.

The report was created and released today by Earthworks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting communities and the environment.

“People are afraid to drink their own water, afraid of what the next nose bleed means, afraid their homes are no longer safe to live in. They are even afraid to speak out,” said Sharon Wilson, report co-author and Texas resident. She continued, “We need regulators, whether they’re in Texas, Pennsylvania or the White House, to put community health before fracking industry profits. Right now, they’re not.”

“This isn’t living anymore. It’s just existing, and wondering what you are going to breathe in next,” said impacted Eagle Ford Shale resident Mike Cerny in his interview with the report author.

"From the regulators in Texas to the United States EPA, government agencies are running away from their own data showing that fracking pollution is harming communities,” said Jennifer Krill, Executive Director of Earthworks. “We are seeing a pattern from Karnes County TX to Dimock PA to Pavilion WY - where oil and gas is being produced, oil and gas impacts are being ignored. Governor Perry and President Obama have a responsibility to protect families in harm's way in the Eagle Ford Shale in Texas. "